I have a stroked, 383 Tuned Port Injection motor in my Jeep. It has been running around 190-200 on the street, and 235-240 on the trails. I have a double 1" core Griffin radiator, with a Black Magic electric fan. The temp outside that day couldn't have been more than 75f. Any input is greatly appreciated.

My TPI 383 in my fullsize runs cool all the time. Stays at about 180 whether on the road or trail. I use a 3 row copper/brass radiator and the stock fan with no shroud. I even have a pinhole in the rad that leaks it down to about 2/3 capacity with no problems.
Phil

What are you using to turn on the electric fan? I have a TPI406 in my K5 that runs no more than 205 on the trail with only one IROC electric fan (as a puller) thermostatically controlled by a Painless temp relay probe that goes through the fins in the 4 core radiator...............stays around 205 (read through the Auto Xray scanner) no matter what the conditions or speed.

Your radiator might be undersized..............

As for the radiator, it is definatly big enough, i got the same one that my buddie has in a blown 68 camaro with some crazy hp like 800hp.

Would the timing have anything to do with the temp. I have been trying to dial it in, the timming marks had to be cut off for the 400 hbalancer to fit, so I don't have any for sure way to time the motor. It has been givin me hell on the first try at starting it, like 3-4x befor itll start. Once it is warm, it starts the 1st crank.

Does anyone have a good way to get the timming more accurate?

Someone has to have some insight on this problem.

Timing advanced or retarded too much can be partly to blame, as can running lean. If the radiator is a large one, it probably is more of a tuning problem.

Make your own timing pointer. Bring the #1 up to TDC and mark the balancer. Then set the timing using a dial up timing light.

383's and 400's like a little less advance then a 350. Also make sure your advance on the dist is working OK.

Once I have the balancer marked and get the dial in time gun, i will adjust the timming until the mark is in the light? The 350 was supposed to ulitmaly be @ 16adv, so should I try 14adv.? Thanks for the help.

Originally posted by tradin1
Once I have the balancer marked and get the dial in time gun, i will adjust the timming until the mark is in the light? The 350 was supposed to ulitmaly be @ 16adv, so should I try 14adv.? Thanks for the help.

If you have a dial up timeing gun. Disconect your vacumm advance and plug it. Then with your motor at an idle adjust your timeing light till the mark you made for TDC lines up with the pointer. What ever you have the timeing light dialed to. Will be your initial timing.

It should be around 8-16 degrees.

Then hook the advance back up. Rev your motor to around 2800 RPM's and dial your timeing light till the pointer and the mark line up. That will be your overall total advance.

It should be about 32-38 degrees

If you have to adjust the dist to get 32-38 overall. And that makes the Inital timeing to low or high. Check to see if your vacumm and mechanical advance is working properly.

I have a computer controled motor, so would this still be the way to do it. What point should i use for referance, I don't have any timming marks as they had to be cut off to install the 400 balancer?

Thanks

Originally posted by tradin1
I have a computer controled motor, so would this still be the way to do it. What point should i use for referance, I don't have any timming marks as they had to be cut off to install the 400 balancer?

Thanks

Ah, that helps.............get a scanner if you don't have one already...........got my Auto Xray from Schucks for $150 - check them out at www.autoxray.com if you need to. That will tell you what your timing is also on the screens...........as well as how much knock retard is being used, etc. If you have the complete computer setup you won't have vac advance, so the proper way is to unplug the brown wire off the distributor (sorry, don't remember the name of the connection) and set the base timing, probably by being able to use the scanner...............if my info is wrong, sorry, but you can try www.thirdgen.org for the proper procedure to use when setting the timing via a scanner.

Hope this helps................:D

I am going to get the xray scanner, thanks.

Would any one be worried about their engine running at 240f? That is what concerned me to begin with. Thanks again.

Originally posted by tradin1
Would any one be worried about their engine running at 240f? That is what concerned me to begin with. Thanks again.

Definitely. My 406 stays at 205-210* in any and all conditions, including trail running or running the dunes at Sand Lake. If you're running 240* it seems slow running will make it go higher.........

It runs 190*-205* on the street, on the trails it runs 220*-240*. I am hoping that with some tunning i can get the temps down. It's been raining for 3 weeks now, and don't want to get stuck in the mud with an overheating motor. Thanks